UNSW Canberra Launch on Northbourne is proud of its role in supporting veterans and helping innovative defence and security SMEs bring their ideas and products to market.

Since its establishment in February 2020, Launch’s collaborators have continued their growth, with many employing a high proportion of veterans and further developing pathways and opportunities for future veteran employment.

As a 100 per cent veteran owned and veteran staffed company, Viden has been a shining example and advocate for veteran employment. Specialising in cyberworthiness and capability delivery to Defence and other national security partners, Viden has proven a natural and highly supportive environment for many transitioning veterans.

Viden’s Chief Executive Officer Anthony Barnes believes that the unique experience, training and values inherent to many veterans make them a highly capable and obvious choice for employers.

“Veterans are motivated, innovative, honest, hardworking and humble professionals,” Mr Barnes said.

“We are thrilled to have a great veteran team, but equally to be a part of many other great veteran employment initiatives, including the Australian Defence Force’s new industry On The Job Training (OJT) program.”

Launch collaborator Terra Schwartz, a cyber-security company specialising in strategic cyber services and products for Defence and national security clients, employs more than 20 per cent veterans in its team. Head of Cyber at Terra Schwartz, Dr David Ormrod, a 22-year veteran of the Australian Army, said the unique facilities and dynamic environment made Launch an ideal location for their business.

“We are thrilled to be here at Launch in a supportive and collaborative environment which allows us to grow and provide more opportunities for former Defence members,” Dr Ormrod said.

“Our clients need expertise, we are grateful that our veteran community has so many excellent candidates who have the required skills and knowledge to help our industry.”

As the premier military education institution in Australia and a long-standing member of the ACT business community, UNSW Canberra is unique in its approach to supporting the employment of veterans.

UNSW Canberra’s tertiary and professional programs are designed on sector trends, providing the skills and knowledge required for a military career but also making them equally relevant and transferable to a civilian career path; providing a breadth of opportunities for veterans, post-military.

As a research institution, UNSW Canberra shines a light on veteran issues through research, including significant contributions to the fields of post-traumatic stress disorder and analysing veteran homelessness. UNSW Canberra was also a major sponsor of the Invictus Games in 2018, a major event celebrating and showcasing the capabilities of veterans.

UNSW Canberra draws on its knowledge, experience and networks to develop practical initiatives aimed at creating and facilitating opportunities to assist veterans, especially those transitioning to civilian employment.

From cyber frameworks to the Battlefield-of-Things, electronic  warfare  capabilities  to  the  manufacture of SmallSat satellites, UNSW Canberra Launch collaborators presented their capabilities, ideas and innovation to industry during the first UNSW Canberra Launch Capabilities Showcase today.

Since it opened its doors in 2019, UNSW Canberra Launch on Northbourne has developed into an ecosystem of defence, space and cyber small-to-medium enterprises. The innovative precinct fosters collaboration between industry, academia and government to grow capabilities in Australia’s strategic priorities.

UNSW Canberra Rector Professor Michael Frater said that the growth of Launch on Northbourne after almost 12 months of operation was evidence of the incubator’s success.

“UNSW Canberra is one of Australia’s leading centres for defence and security capabilities. Launch on Northbourne offers the University an  opportunity  to partner  with and  support  tech  start-ups,  while  giving  our  students  and  researchers pathways to further their work,” Professor Frater said.

“Today our Launch businesses showcased  their capabilities and innovation for  industry.  The great  strength  of  this collaboration is this innovative space that allows different industries to come together to develop solutions, talent and technology.”

Launch collaborator Terra Schwartz, a cyber-security company specialising in strategic cyber services/products for defence and  national  security  clients,  have  leveraged  their  partnership  at  Launch  to  create  bespoke  cyber  security solutions, intelligence, wargaming design, and software development.

Terra Schwartz General Manager Amy Ormrod said that Launch, with its industry rated information security infrastructure and collaborative workspaces, has provided the ideal environment for her team to thrive.

“Launch on Northbourne offers us the necessary security and system requirements we need to provide for our clients in a collaborative and dynamic precinct,” Mrs Ormrod said.

“To be able to showcase our work today, in partnership with the other collaborators here at Launch is another example of how this unique facility promotes growth and innovation.”

Launch on Northbourne provides a working model of the UNSW Canberra Defence and Security Innovation Precinct, part of the future UNSW Canberra City campus. More information about the precinct can be found on the Launch on Northbourne website.

UNSW Canberra was recognised as a Platinum Healthier Workplace by the ACT Government at an awards ceremony this morning.

Healthier Work is a WorkSafe ACT program that was established to support local businesses to thrive as health promoting environments.

UNSW Canberra has achieved platinum recognition for consistently implementing health and wellbeing initiatives for four years.

ACT Work Health and Safety Commissioner Jacqueline Agius was on campus to present the award to Deputy Rector Harvinder Sidhu.

“Today is a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate UNSW’s ongoing commitment to work health and safety, and also for taking part in the Healthier Work Program,” Ms Agius.

“Since joining the healthier work program in 2015, I know UNSW has implemented a range of initiatives.”

Professor Sidhu said it was an  honour to accept this trophy on behalf of UNSW Canberra.

“I note that we are in good company, joining organisations such as the National Archives of Australia, ActewAGL, and the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, in achieving platinum status,” Professor Sidhu said.

“This trophy acknowledges the outstanding work done by our teams over the past four years to safeguard the health and wellbeing of our staff – driven by the Health, Safety & Facilities (HS&F) team in previous years and in 2020, the combined efforts of the HS&F, Human Resources and Equity & Diversity units.”

Over the years, the University’s initiatives have included a focus on encouraging staff to eat healthily, increase their physical activity, cut down on their alcohol use and stop smoking.

There have also been programs designed to enhance the social and emotional wellbeing of staff including workplace resilience workshops and regular yoga sessions.

“Of course, 2020 has been a more challenging year in many respects, with first the bushfires and now the pandemic,” Professor Sidhu said.

“We needed to do things a little differently this year, and we may need to change the way we do many things in the future.”

Ms Agius said workplaces have faced unprecedented challenges in 2020, with COVID-19 having a major impact on the day-to-day activities carried out by universities, in particular.

“Universities, probably more than anyone, have had to be dynamic in the way that they put in controls to ensure that everybody on campus is safe in relation to COVID-19,” Ms Agius said.

“UNSW has been agile, responsive and you have demonstrated a commitment to your staff, with the implementation of specific initiatives to support people working remotely.”

2020 health and wellbeing initiatives have also included monitoring our buildings for the impacts of bushfire smoke, safeguarding the health and safety of those who needed to remain on campus throughout the pandemic, safely providing staff flu vaccinations, and the roll out of the Mental Health First Aid Officer program.

Professor Sidhu said the University looked forward to continuing the initiative.

“UNSW Canberra has appreciated all the advice and support the Healthier Work team has been able to provide us in implementing our programs and we look forward to a continuing connection in the years ahead.”